We know a thing or two about Europe’s loveliest beaches – we’ve got our own list of faves right here – but with so many miles of coastline and gloriously sunny islands, a little extra insight never hurt anyone, did it?
Handily, the Telegraph has just published a 40-strong list of what its experts deem to be the best beaches in Europe, so grab your sunnies and let’s have a look.
Included from Spain is La Concha, the lovely bay of San Sebastián. The Telegraph writes: ‘Probably the most elegant city beach in the world, with a long, curving promenade and locals who actually use it. The strip of sand is wide and clean, the water is calm and the backdrop is straight out of a 1930s travel poster.’ Charming, eh?
Other Spanish posts on the list are Bolonia in Andalusia and Platja de Treumal in Catalonia. Have a look at our favourite beaches in Spain here.
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Several spots in Greece also (unsurprisingly) make the cut, including Fteri, a dazzling spot on the island of Kefalonia with clear, shallow, lapping waves and shimmery white sand. It’s accessible either by hike or water taxi, so you can bet the beach is a little more secluded than other options on the island. There are more excellent Greek beaches in our list here.
What about up north? Well, the Telegraph opted to include Blokhus Beach in Denmark, a 100-metre wide stretch that reaches from Rødhus beach in the south to Saltum beach in the north, all backdropped by pretty dunes, as well as Haukland Beach, in Norway’s scenic archipelago Lofoten. Read on for the full top 40.
These are the 40 best beaches in Europe, according to the Telegraph
Spain
- Bolonia, Andalusia
- Praia de Rodas, Illas Cíes, Galicia
- La Concha, San Sebastián
- Playa de Poo, Asturias
- Praia As Catedrais, Galicia
- Platja de Treumal, Catalonia
- Platja de Formentor, Mallorca
Portugal
- Porto Santo
- Praia da Adraga, Sintra
- Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz, Alentejo
- Praia do Barril, Algarve
- Praia do Cabedelo, Viana do Castelo
France
- Plage du Coz-Pors, Brittany
- Calanque de Figuerolles, Côte d’Azur
- Plage de Wissant, Hauts-de-France
- Plage de Gatseau, Île d’Oléron, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Plage de Roccapina, Corsica
- Dune du Pilat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Plage des Fosses, Côte d’Azur
Italy
- Baia del Silenzio, Sestri Levante, Liguria
- Collelungo, Alberese, Tuscany
- Calamosche, Vendicari, Sicily
- Porto Selvaggio, Nardò, Puglia
- Alberoni, Venice, Veneto
Greece
- Xerocambos, Crete
- Saria, Karpathos
- Seychelles, Ikaria
- Voidokilia, Messinia
- Fteri, Kefalonia
Croatia
- Zlatni Rat, Bol, Brač, Croatia
- Punta Rata, Brela, Croatia
- Sahara Beach, Rab, Croatia
Elsewhere in Europe
- Kraljicina Plaza (Queen’s beach), Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
- Binz, Germany
- Haukland Beach, Lofoten, Norway
- Phaselis, Türkiye
- Blokhus Beach, Denmark
- Sandhammaren, Sweden
- Ramla Beach, Gozo, Malta
- Lara Beach, Cyprus
Check our very own roundup of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.
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